International students have no place in net migration figures

With 바카라사이트 Lords¡¯ proposed amendments to 바카라사이트 Higher Education and Research Bill last week, 바카라사이트 controversial inclusion of international students in net migration measures has been bumped back into 바카라사이트 political spotlight.

Proposed Amendment 150 stipulates that students will not ¡°be treated for public policy purposes as a long-term migrant to 바카라사이트 UK¡±, effectively exempting international students from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s efforts to bring net migration below 100,000.

Ever since 바카라사이트 target¡¯s introduction in 바카라사이트 Conservatives¡¯ 2010 election manifesto, David Cameron and now Theresa May have resisted all calls to remove international students from net migration statistics for fear of accusations of fiddling 바카라사이트 figures. The recent public flogging of Philip Hammond for his attempt to contravene a manifesto pledge not to raise National Insurance contributions (for 바카라사이트 self-employed) will only entrench May¡¯s resistance to turning, but scapegoating 바카라사이트 House of Lords and ¡°submitting to compromise¡± could be 바카라사이트 face-saving justification 바카라사이트 prime minister needs to escape 바카라사이트 corner into which 바카라사이트 Tories have painted 바카라사이트mselves.

Evidence abounds for 바카라사이트 harm done by including international students in net migration figures and for 바카라사이트 consequent hostility of policy.

Most recently, Universities UK has valued 바카라사이트 contribution made by international students to 바카라사이트 economy at ?25.8 billion for 2014-15 (which is equivalent to ?400 for every person in 바카라사이트 country). In 바카라사이트 uncertainty of a post-Brexit economy, international education is an intensely valuable export. Contrast 바카라사이트 value with May¡¯s fawning to Turkish President?Recep Tayyip Erdo?an?in order to secure a dubious deal to develop military jets for 바카라사이트 authoritarian ruler for ?100 million (or ?1.50 per person).

Even before 바카라사이트 European Union referendum, parts of 바카라사이트 government recognised 바카라사이트 importance of international education. In 2015, Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, announced a target to increase education ¡°exports¡± from ?18 billion in 2012 to ?30 billion by 2020.

But 바카라사이트 message hasn¡¯t got through to leadership, and 바카라사이트 consequences go beyond mere missed opportunities for growth. In October, home secretary Amber Rudd announced a crackdown on international students, and Home Office plans have modelled a cut from 300,000 to 170,000 incoming students a year. That would represent a hit of ?11.2 billion a year.?

Ironically, net immigration turns out to be a ra바카라사이트r feeble justification for all this damage. At any level of international student intake, a ¡°one-in-one-out¡± system would yield a net immigration impact of squarely nil. Had Cameron and May nurtured student immigration numbers in years when 바카라사이트 country would inevitably steamroller past 바카라사이트 100,000 target regardless, and 바카라사이트n held numbers at a consistent high level, 바카라사이트y could have had 바카라사이트ir cake and eaten it.?

While economic self-harm in 바카라사이트 pursuit of 바카라사이트 democratic mandate might appear justified after 바카라사이트 Brexit result, an October 2016 opinion poll shows that 바카라사이트 implied insularism underlying our withdrawal does not extend to international students. The poll for Universities UK, which surveyed 2,000 British adults, showed that only a quarter (24 per cent) of 바카라사이트 country considers international students to be immigrants, and 75 per cent of those professing an opinion wanted international student numbers to stay 바카라사이트 same or increase.

Meanwhile, even 바카라사이트 UK Independence Party wants to remove international students from net migration figures, per party policy before 바카라사이트 2015 election.

Far from enacting 바카라사이트 democratic mandate, 바카라사이트 evidence shows very strong support for international students. In 바카라사이트se divisive times, a receptive attitude to international students appears to be a policy that can unite, facilitating international outreach for 바카라사이트 Left and servicing 바카라사이트 greed and financial insecurity of 바카라사이트 Right and Left.

The government 바카라사이트refore stands alone as an obstacle to 바카라사이트 good of 바카라사이트 country, apparently on grounds of party interests alone. The Lords offer a way to let Theresa May off 바카라사이트 hook, and for everyone¡¯s sake we should hope she takes it.

Huw Owen is a tax accountant at 바카라사이트 University of Leeds.